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Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection/disease that is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. This infection is most often transmitted through having sexual intercourse with an infected person. However, syphilis can also be transmitted through a blood transfusion, contaminated needles, vertical transmission, or through the direct contact of a lesion/chancre. Syphilis can be broken down into 4 categories or stages. First, in the primary stage, a patient may notice chancres or sores on their mouth or genital area. During the secondary stage, the patient may notice pink skin rashes, warts, oral lesions, swollen lymph nodes, or hair loss. The third stage is the latent stage which is when the patient’s syphilis seems to disappear, but it is really just a time that the patient is asymptomatic. The final stage is the tertiary stage which occurs when the infection travels to the patient’s organs. Syphilis is a serious condition that can lead to death if not treated.

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Syphilis can be treated and even cured in the early stages such as the primary, secondary, and early latent stage. Penicillin G is the drug of choice for the treatment of syphilis. This medication can kill the bacterium causing the infection (Treponema pallidum). The early stages of syphilis can usually be treated with only a single dose of penicillin but later stages may require multiple doses. Patients who are allergic to penicillin can be treated with penicillin desensitization or an alternative medication such as Erythromycin or Tetracycline. If a woman is pregnant while infected with syphilis, she should also be treated with penicillin. The baby should also receive treatment as soon as possible to decrease the risk of his/her death and/or future complications.

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If left untreated, syphilis can lead to many serious, and potentially life-threatening complications. As stated earlier,  the tertiary stage of syphilis causes neurological and cardiovascular damage, as well as damage to other organs. This damage can result in heart and brain problems such as angina, aortic aneurysm, heart failure, seizures, memory problems, personality alterations, and dementia. Other long-term problems include problems with the skin, bones, genitals, liver, eyes, ears, and many others.

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During pregnancy, syphilis can pass through the placenta and infect the unborn child. Congenital syphilis poses many dangers for the baby such as miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, neonatal death, growth restrictions, spleen and liver problems, meningitis, and/or chancres. If the child survives past the birth and the infant stages, he/she can also suffer from problems such as vision, hearing, bone/joints, nervous system, or developmental problems later in life.

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The tertiary stage appears after the latent stage and involves tissue and organ damage. The symptoms of this stage can include small tumors on the skin, bones, and organs of the body. It is during this stage that syphilis also can cause neurological and cardiovascular damage.

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The third stage of syphilis is the latent stage. This stage refers to the asymptomatic infection that follows the primary and secondary stages. The latent stage can be subdivided into two categories- the early and late latent stages. The early stage usually occurs before one year post-infection. This stage includes patients whom test positive for the infection and can confirm exposure to and/or symptoms within the last year. The late latent stage usually occurs one year post-infection. This stage is also asymptomatic but the patient does not meet the criteria for early-stage.

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The secondary stage of syphilis usually begins around 4-10 weeks post-infection and continues for about 6 months.  Symptoms of this stage can include skin rashes, warts, oral lesions, swollen lymph nodes, hair loss, and/or a fever.

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Syphilis is subdivided into four categories based on the progression of the disease. The primary stage occurs 10-90 days post-infection. Symptoms of this stage include chancres, or sores, at the site of the original infection. For example, on the mouth or the genitals.

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Syphilis is caused by a bacterium called Treponema pallidum.

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Syphilis is a bacterial STI